Monday, August 20, 2012

PEACEABLENESS TOWARD ENEMIES

Wendell Berry offers an alternative to the age-old violence begets violence cycle: "escape from the logic of retribution"

Once again, I came across an essay by Wendell Berry by the
title “Peaceableness Toward Enemies.” Found in his book Sex,
Economy, Freedom, & Community, it is a reflection on America’s role
in the Persian Gulf War (way back when). Berry perceived then that war
was unnecessary and more costly to global politics and ecology than we have yet
to realize.I think of this as the USA has surpassed 5000 troop deaths, more troop deaths by suicide, multiple thousands of casualties, and well over $1 trillion (and counting...) spent waging war in Afghanistan and Iraq:

“The idea of peaceableness toward enemies is a religious
principle. Whether or not it could be
believed, much less practiced apart from authentic religious faith, I do not
know. I can only point out that the idea
of the ultimate importance of individual lives is also a religious principle
and that it finally became a political principle of significant power and
influence.”

“Peaceableness toward enemies is an idea that will, of
course, continue to be denounced as impractical. It has been too little tried by individuals,
much less by nations. It will not readily
or easily serve those who are greedy for power.
It cannot be effectively used for bad ends. It could not be used as the basis of an
empire. It does not afford opportunities
for profit. It involves danger to
practitioners. It requires
sacrifice. And yet it seems to me that
it is practical, for it offers the
only escape from the logic retribution.
It is the only way by which we can cease to look to war for peace.”

“The essential point is the ancient one: that to be
peaceable is, by definition, to be peaceable in time of conflict. Peaceableness is not the amity that exists
between people who agree, nor is it the exhaustion or jubilation that follows
war. It is not passive. It is the ability to act to resolve conflict
without violence. If it is not a
practical and a practicable method, it is nothing. As a practicable method, it reduces
helplessness in the face of conflict. In the face of conflict, the peaceable
person may find several solutions, the violent person only one."

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John Franklin Hay

John Franklin Hay, M.Div., D.Min., Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. Executive Director - Near East Area Renewal (NEAR) // Adjunct Faculty - Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs (IUPUI) // Pastor, East Tenth United Methodist Church // community and cycling advocate

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